Current Affairs - Archery

Recently, in a remarkable achievement, Aditi Swami has etched her name in history by becoming the youngest-ever senior world champion at the World Archery Championship.

Key Points:

• Unprecedented Triumph: The 17-year-old Indian archer's extraordinary feat has not only secured a gold medal for the country but has also marked her as the first individual world champion in archery from India, across any discipline and gender.
• Historic Record: Not only is Aditi Swami the youngest-ever senior world champion, but she is also the first Indian athlete to achieve this distinction in the world of archery. Her victory highlights her exceptional talent, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
• Double World Champion: Prior to her historic win, she had already claimed the Under-18 title in the Youth Championships in Limerick, Ireland, showcasing her prowess as a double world champion in less than two months.
• India's Remarkable Finish: India's impressive showing at the championship resulted in a record-breaking four medals—three gold and one bronze.

The 2022 Archery World Cup (Stage-2) was held from 16–22 May, 2022 in Gwangju (South Korea).

• India came second in the medals table with 7 medals (3-Gold, 1-Silver and 3-Bronze) after the Stage -2 events (it includes medals of stage-1 also). India won 2 Gold in the Stage -1 held at Antalya (Turkey).
• South Korea topped the medals tally with 9 medals (6-Gold, 2-Silver and 1-Bronze).

Medal winners from India at Stage-2

• Abhishek Verma, Rajat Chauhan, and Aman Saini: Gold - Compound (Men’s Team) Event
• Mohan Ramswaroop Bhardwaj: Silver - Compound (Men’s Individual) Event
• Abhishek Verma & Avneet Kaur: Bronze - Compound (Mixed Team) Event
• Avneet Kaur, Muskan Kirar and Priya Gurjar: Bronze - Women’s Compound Team Event
• Ridhi, Komalika Bari and Ankita Bhakat: Bronze- Women’s Recurve Team Event

The 22nd Asian Archery Championships was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 14-19 November, 2021.

With seven medals, India took second place in the tournament. With 15 medals, South Korea topped the medal table. Host Bangladesh came at third place with 3 medals.

Indian Medal Winners

Gold

• Jyothi Surekha Vennam (Women’s individual compound event)
• Silver
• Pravin Jadhav, Kapil, and Parth Salunkhe (Men’s team recurve event)
• Ankita Bhakat, Ridhi and Madhu Vedwan (Women’s team recurve event)
• Abhishek Verma (Men’s individual compound event)
• Rishabh Yadav and Jyothi Surekha Vennam (Mixed Team compound event)

Bronze

• Aman Saini, Abhishek Verma and Rishabh Yadav (Men’s team compound event)
• Ankita Bhakat, Kapil (Mixed team recurve event)

Medal Table

India won three silver medals at the 2021 World Archery Championships, held in Yankton, United States.

Event Category & Winner (Silver)

• Women’s Compound (Individual): Jyothi Surekha Vennam
• Women’s Compound (Team): Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Muskar Kirar and Priya Gurjar
• Compound Mixed (Team): Abhishek Verma and Jyothi Surekha Vennam

Source: world archery

Highlight

• Vennam Jyothi Surekha of Vijayawada became the first Indian woman archer to win three silver medals at a world championship. She won medal in each of the above three categories.
• According to World Archery, India “has collected the most medals by any country to have never won a world title, appearing in nine title matches and leaving with the silver each time, as well as winning two bronze medals.”